Ezequiel “Zeke” Olivarez, a talented artist and student in the Aggie ACHIEVE Program at Texas A&M University, has achieved a remarkable milestone: having his artwork displayed in the 2025 ArtFest. The ArtFest is an annual student art exhibition and competition at the James R. Reynolds Student Art Gallery in the Memorial Student Center. His piece, a stunning representation of his love for anime and personal expression, captures the essence of his artistic journey.
When Zeke’s work was selected for the ArtFest exhibition, it was a dream come true. “I was really happy. I accomplished my goal of getting my art into the gallery,” he shares. Upon seeing his piece displayed in the gallery for the first time, Zeke was overcome with a sense of disbelief. “I was very shocked that I got my art in the art gallery,” he says. While the exhibition is still ongoing, Zeke is eager to see how visitors react to his work. “I hope people think that I’m artistic and that I’m very talented,” he says with a smile. The exhibition is an opportunity for him to not only showcase his abilities but also to connect with others who share his passion for art.
“I want to take my art along the journey to inspire other people,” he explains. His goal is to become a role model for those who want to pursue art, just as he was inspired by others. “I want to show them the talent I have,” he says. Zeke plans to contribute more artwork to future exhibitions and continue to explore new opportunities to share his art with the world.
For students who dream of having their own artwork featured in a gallery, Zeke has some words of advice: “Go for it! Don’t be afraid to put your art in the art gallery.”
